Class 6A-1 Championship Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   The Class 6A-1 state championship game is set for Friday night at 7PM in Edmond as #3 Bixby will face off with #6 Owasso. These two teams met all the way back in late August to kick off the 2022 football season. And they'll meet again on Friday night to decide the state champion in the state's largest class. In this post, we're taking a more in-depth look at this match-up. From how they got here to the biggest keys to the game and even a championship pick, we'll get you ready for Friday's showdown. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 6A-1 state championship content before, during and following the game on Friday night!   IN CASE YOU MISSED IT   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/class-6a-1-title-first-look/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/class-6a-1-title-first-look/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- 6A-1 Title First Look</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/6a-1-state-bixby-players-to-watch/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/6a-1-state-bixby-players-to-watch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- Bixby Players To Watch</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/6a-1-state-owasso-players-to-watch/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/6a-1-state-owasso-players-to-watch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- Owasso Players To Watch</a>   HOW THEY GOT HERE   #3 Bixby Spartans (11-1)   Aug. 25 – Beat Owasso 49-14 Sept. 2 – Beat Springdale Har-Ber, AR. 59-0 Sept. 9 – Beat Sand Springs 67-3 Sept. 23 – Beat Norman North 63-7 Sept. 30 – Beat Southmoore 80-0 Oct. 7 – Beat Enid 77-14 Oct. 14 – Beat Broken Arrow 77-17 Oct. 20 – Beat Westmoore 73-6 Oct. 27 – Beat Moore 64-7 Nov. 3 – Lost To Jenks 38-35 Quarterfinals – Beat Enid 63-0 Semifinals – Beat Jenks 28-14   Despite moving up to 6A-1, nothing has really changed as the Spartans have been one of the top teams all season and have found their way back to Edmond for the ninth consecutive season, tying a state record. Bixby also extended their state record winning streak to 58 consecutive games before falling to Jenks in the regular season finale. But they would lock up another district championship and then avenge that loss to Jenks in the semifinals last week. The Spartans are looking for their eighth state championship in school history, all of them coming in the last nine years.   #6 Owasso Rams (9-4)   Aug. 25 – Lost To Bixby 49-14 Sept. 2 – Lost To Jenks 14-7 Sept. 9 – Beat Broken Arrow 27-26 Sept. 23 – Lost To Union 35-17 Sept. 30 – Lost To Mustang 27-17 Oct. 7 – Beat Edmond North 30-16 Oct. 13 – Beat Yukon 36-17 Oct. 21 – Beat Edmond Memorial 37-14 Oct. 28 – Beat Edmond Santa Fe 13-7 Nov. 4 – Beat Norman 24-14 1st Round – Beat Westmoore 41-7 Quarterfinals – Beat Norman North 41-34 Semifinals – Beat Union 50-47 (6 OT)   Owasso came into this season with high expectations once again and they'll get a shot at the same team they opened the season against when they face Bixby. The Rams began the year with a 1-4 record as they played arguably the toughest schedule in the state and also lost some key pieces for the season. But following that 1-4 start, the Rams haven't lost. They went on the road and upset Norman North in the quarterfinals and then won a six overtime classic with Union in the semifinals. They've already beaten one team that beat them earlier this year. They now look to do it again.   HOW THEY MATCH UP   Bixby can win games in so many different ways but what helped them win the regular season meeting with the Rams was their ability to capitalize on any mistake made by their opponent. The Spartans led 21-14 at halftime and the first play of the second half was a pick six thrown by Owasso. That started the snowball going downhill and there was no stopping it at that point. The Spartans started pouring it on from there and that's how they beat the Rams back in August. They've done that to a lot of teams with their consistent offense and stout defense.   One of the more underrated parts of the Bixby dynasty is the coaching staff and how it's stayed in tact. That goes a long way with how the Spartans play on the field. Offensive coordinator Tyler Schneider and defensive coordinator Rodney Flowers have been there from the beginning of this run. They've had opportunities to go elsewhere but it's clear that Bixby is a truly special place to them and somewhere they want to be.   It's the state championship but it's also not a secret that Owasso is the underdog coming into Friday night's game. And that's a dangerous thing to have a Bill Blankenship-coached team flying under the radar. We mentioned coaches with Bixby and that's one thing that Owasso has in one of the best in state history with Blankenship. He has helped guide this team through a 1-4 start all the way to one win away from raising their third state championship since he took over in 2017.   But Blankenship would tell you that it's the players that have gotten the job done in the last two months. And that starts with their senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38821' first='Mason' last='Willingham']. The senior has been outstanding throughout the season as he has had to become Owasso's primary running threat, in addition to throwing it all over the field. He's answered the call and the defense has also stepped up in a big way. A team that was young and riddled with injuries at the beginning of the season is now playing some of their best football and they get another shot at the Spartans on Friday.   MATCH-UP HISTORY   When Bixby and Owasso met back in week zero, it was only the third time that these two teams have met in the last 35 years. They met eight consecutive seasons from 1978-1985 before not playing again until they were in the same district in 2010 and 2011. But with the Spartans moving up to 6A-1, they were looking to improve their non-district schedule. And earlier this year, the two teams agreed to play each other and that match-up would later earn a sponsorship from QuikTrip and was named the "Battle Of The Burbs". Bixby got the best of the Rams that night, winning 49-14 in a runaway second half to capture their 50th consecutive victory.   CRYSTAL BALL   Bixby Over Owasso   In August, Bixby knocked off Owasso and won the first ever "Battle Of The Burbs" match-up and won a silver football trophy sponsored by QuikTrip. This week, both teams will not want the silver ball as they gun for the gold ball and another state championship. While Owasso's run to the championship game has been impressive to watch and they've already proven many doubters wrong and could do it again, this is a different animal. Bixby is firing on all cylinders once again and it seems like that loss to Jenks in week ten has refocused this team and set them up for success moving forward. Going into the game, it feels like the Spartans have the advantage but as we learned last week, it would be unwise to overlook the Rams at this point of the year. But having said that, we're going with the Spartans to capture yet another state championship. Different class, same result.

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!